Let's Talk Software

We are approaching a season of change. The evenings are getting darker, supermarket shelves are clearing of kids’ black trousers and filling with tubs of Heroes and Quality Street. Facebook is prepping for the 8am front door photos as parents get ready for children to start their first day at school.With so many changes happening what changes us when we step into the office? When it comes to making changes within our business it is easy to postpone them to a later date when we feel we may have more time available.

​Business software is a key example. We know that if we change our software processes we could have more time to complete tasks, yet we postpone change as we don’t have enough time. Over the years business accounting software has changed massively so it is no surprise that we find the project easy to postpone. With so many software solutions being introduced into the market, and so much functionality now available, how do you know what your business really needs and if you are missing out on functionality you didn’t know existed?

So where do you start? At o-a-sys we recommend taking the time to evaluate your business so you can create a list of requirements that your new software solution must have and a list of nice to haves. This is a great way to create a shortlist of software providers who you would like to meet for a discussion and demo. Creating a nice to have list helps you find functionality that you may not be aware is available or how to search for it. By providing lists to companies, they can save you time by saying yes or no to functionality you require before scheduling a demo.

Demos can then be based on your requirements so you get a feel for how the software will fit into your business rather than your business fitting in with the software. Don’t forget to ask questions about the implementation process. Find out if the system can be phased into the business so that departments can get use to the switch over. Find out how and when your employees will be trained to use the software and the support options available once the system is in place. The decision can then be based on the number of requirements fulfilled, how user friendly the system is and the relationship developed with the provider. Changing software is a long-term commitment for any business so you need to be comfortable phoning for support and knowing you will receive high standards. ​If you are thinking of changing your software then give the o-a-sys team a call and we can discuss your list of requirements and see if we have a solution that is right for your business not just your industries.